Why every day will be artistic in 2013

A Northampton artist has set himself a creative new year’s resolution set to last for the whole of 2013.

Gareth Lloyd, aged 26, of Abington, has challenged himself to draw a new portrait of a passer-by every day for the full 365 days of this year.

Mr Lloyd, who designed some of the sculptures in last year’s Safari Northampton project, has had more than 1,500 hits on his Facebook site for the challenge, some from as far away as America.

He said: “The challenge is something I have been wanting to do for a while and it was a perfect to start at the beginning of the new year.

“I wasn’t planning on anybody else getting involved with the challenge, but the response to what I am doing has been fantastic. I can’t believe how it has taken off.”

Mr Lloyd said he knew of about 15 other people in the town who have decided to take up the challenge themselves after seeing the Facebook group.

He added: “I am self-taught but it’s great for me to be able to give some guidance to people. Everybody is drawing a lot of different things and they are really getting out around the town. I have seen pictures of animals and nature scenes. It’s great to see people getting involved in it. It’s about self- improvement and I hope to see that I have improved at the end of the year.”

Retail manager Gareth Lloyd has been secretly sketching people on a bus, in the town centre and in pubs for his art challenge and hopes to exhibit his work at the end of the year. He said: “People may see themselves in my exhibit at the end of the year. My sketches usually take me between five and six minutes and I have to be quick if people are going to get off the bus or move on in town. I normally choose people with a full pint in a pub.”

For more details about the challenge and to see Mr Lloyd’s work, visit www.garethlloydart.com